Aeroplane



Nov. 2 1926.

R., CHILLINGWORTH AEROPLANE I Filed July 21. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 2 1926."

R. CHILLINGWORTH AEROPLANE Filed July 21 9 5 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

, .Nov. 2,1926. 1,605,327

R. CHILLINGWORTH AER OPLANE I Filed July 21, 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 Patented Nov. 2, 1926.

UNITED STATES OF NUREMBURG, GERMANY.

RUDOLPH 'CHILLIIN'GWORTH,

AEBOPLANE.

Application filed July 21. 1925, Serial No. 45,067, and in Germany December 24, 1924.

This invention relates to an aeroplane, especially a helicopter, the propellers of which are driven not by their axles, but from the extreme end of the blades by an auxiliary propeller having its own riving source and acting upon the blade.

The invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a plan view partly in section of a machine constructed according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a front elevation partly in section,

Fi ure 3 is an enlarged elevational view showing details of construction,

Figure 4 is a plan of an alternative form of machine constructed according to the in- "vention,

Figure 5 is a front elevation of the machine shown in Figure 4,

Figure 6 is an enlarged detail plan of part of the machine shown in Figure 4, and

Figure 7 is a section on the line 77 of Figure 6. I

The frame of the aero lane consists of two square or rectangular rames a, a which are arranged one below the other and connected together and spaced at a distance of so about 4 to 5ms apart by vertical members I), 1) extending in the direction of flight. Between the members I), I) remain spaces 0, c for the accommodation of passengers, engines, luggage, fuel and the like. The

frames 11, a and the members I), b have a profile ensuring the least resistance and they are made from suitable light building materials.

In each corner of the fratne a vertical axle g is arranged'on which a hub 19 is revolubly mounted, and which carry each two propeller blades d the one diametrically opposite the other. The propeller blades d are mounted by means of a hollow stud i in a lug k of the hub 72 so that they are adapted to rotate around the stud i, e. g. are adjustable as regards inclined position. One of the blades of each propeller is constructed as driving blade, and, with this object in 1 view, it is traversed in the longitudinal direction from the root of its pivot stud i to the proximity of its extreme end by a'hollow body m in which an axle n extending in the direction of the axle of the blade and an axle r transversely directed to the axis of the blade are revolubly located. The two axles n, r are connected by bevel wheels f and the longitudinal axle n carries on its inner end a driving motor q, the transverse axle r having at its end projecting from the blade an auxiliary propeller e.

When the aeroplane has to ascend, the motors q of the auxiliary propellers e are startedso that the propellers e rotate and make the propeller blades d rotate also. The auxiliary propeller e is preferably arranged so that the front pair as well as the rear pair of elevating propellers rotate in opposite directions. By driving the elevating 'propellers from the blade end a considerable saving of driving power is obtained as this power, as contrasted with the known arrangements, acts upon a much longer lever arm.

The aeroplane having reached the desired height the elevating propellers d are locked in the position shown in Figure 1, i. e., having the blades standing perpendicular to the direction of flight, the blade planes being however inclined so that they act now as supporting plane. The driving of the auxiliary propellers e is not stopped and they control now the forward movement of the aeroplane. The vertical ascending movement merges gradually on 'a gradually curved path into the horizontal flight.

' To assist the ascending movement of the aeroplane another auxiliary propeller o is arranged over each of the above mentioned auxiliary propellers (Z which is driven from propeller (l. The revoluble hub p of the propeller blades d (Figure 3) carries a gear wheel .9, which'meshes with a gear wheel keyed on a counter shaft t. The counter shaft t carries another gear wheel w, which meshes with a toothed wheel mounted on the revoluble axle a, so that the hub of the propeller blades d drives the axle q. On the axis 9 sit the upper elevating propellers o. The angular speed of the top elevating pro pellers o is preperably considerablv greater, for instance twice as great, as hat of the lower elevating propellers d. When the two elevating propellers '0, d have to rotate in opposite directions a pinion is inserted between the two gear wheels 'w, m,

In the construction shown in Fi re 4 the machine is provided with 'one. pair only of propeller blades 01, these propeller blades beingprovided with auxiliary propellers e which correspond to the auxiliary propellers 6 described with reference to Figures 1 to 8.

The propeller blades d are mounted on a I hub 10 which is similar to the hub 10 described with reference to Figures 13' and is rotatably mounted upon a propeller shaft 9 mounted on bearings on the frame of the machine. The hub p is formed with a gear 8 meshing with a pinion o fixed on a counter shaft t whiclrcarries a gearw' meshingwith a pinion as fast on the propeller shaft 9'. The ratio of the gears s to o and w to :0 may be 1-2 so that the propeller shaft 9 revolves at four times the nected to the shaft 15 or g" and to the propellers 0 through bevel gearing.

The construction of the aeroplane is evidently not limited to the forms of construction shown but may be quite different. It is, for instance, possible not to drive all elevating propellers by one auxiliary propeller with one source of power, the drive of one of such auxiliary propellers might sometimes be sufficient. in which case the rotating movement of the other elevating propellers is derived from the firstone by means of convenient transmission elements. The auxiliary propellers 6 might be driven also from a motor, arranged upon the aeroplane frame, by means of suitable transmission elements. During the horizontal flight the upper or lowerv frame ispreferably covered with a Venetian blind or the like serving as sup porting plane.

I claim 1. A flying machine comprising a plurality of helicopters each consisting of a pair of adjustable propeller blades and a motor driven auxiliary propeller .mounted on at least one of said propeller blades; a plurality of auxiliary helicopters mounted above said first mentioned helicopters. and speed multiplying gear between said first mentioned helicopters and said auxiliary helicopters.

2. A flying machine comprising a plurality of helicopters each consisting of a rotary hub; a pair of lugs formed on said hub, a pair of propeller blades and hollow studs formed on said propeller blades, and rotatably mounted in said lugs, and a motor driven auxiliary propeller mounted on at least one of said propeller blades; a plurality of auxiliary helicopters mounted above said first mentioned helicopter, and means for driving said auxiliary helicopters from said first nientionedhelicopters.

3'. A flying machine according toclaim 2 wherein said means for driving said auxiliary helicopters consists of speed multiplying gearing.

4. A flyin machine according to claim 2 whereinsait hollow studs extend substantially along the entire length of said helicopter propeller blades, including a driving motor mounted in said hollow stud and transmission gear also mounted within said hollow stud and extending between said driving motor and said motor driven propeller.

5, A flying machine comprising a pair of superposed rectangular frames, a plurality of vertical members extending between said frames, a plurality of vertical shafts mounted on said frames; a rotary hub mounted on each of said shafts; a pair of lugs formed on each of said rotary hubs; a helicopter propeller blade having a hollow stud rotatably mounted in each of said lugs, at least copter propeller blades having a motor mounted in its hollow stud and an auxiliary propeller driven by said motor, an auxiliary helicopter mounted on each of said shafts above said hub, and speed multiplying gearing between said hubs and said auxiliary helicopters.

7. YA helicopter drive for flying machines comprising rotary blades, an auxiliary propeller mounted on one of said blades and so arranged that said propeller when driven causes the said rotary blades to be rotated and an auxiliary helicopter arranged to be driven at substantially higher speed by said auxiliary propeller.

In witness whereof I affix my signature. 

